Apparatus suitable for the gradual production of gases



May 1, 1928. 1,668,371

W. E. KEMMERICH APPARATUS SUITABLE FOR THE GRADUAL PRODUCTION OF GASES Original Filed Sept. 8. 1924 Z0 K i M )9 y Q /73 Q 4 157 167/ 73 T I "r 4; 1' 79 Zfi 1/ 2'8 L I 25 POTASSIUM g 9 PERMANSANATE L 1 1. AND SAND i A 7 I Z9 g 4/ 1 7cLQRmE g: 965 1 27 m .5 24 M1 2' a HYDROAwgORIC ACID Z1 ppkmm INFUSORIAL EARTH fizzy. 5"

wwdnu AM MIWIIIMIIIVIJJIMIMJ INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 1, 192% UNITED STATES "WILLIAM E. KEMMERICH, or MONTCLAIR, nnwannsn APPARATUS SUITABLE non THE Original application filed September 8, 1924, Serial Ho. 738,506.

April 1, 1925.

My invention relates to apparatus suitable for the production of gases and refers particularly to the production of predetermined quantities of gas as, for instance, chlorine This IS a divisional application of my application filed September 8-, 1924, bearing Serial Number 7 36,506.

The value of chlorine as a therapeutic agent in certain respiratory diseases is Well known and later experiments have indicated the necessary quantities of chlorine and the best conditions required for the most eflicient application of this gas in the treatment of designated respiratory diseases.

Thorough investigations regarding the effective atmospheric chlorine content conducted by many authorities upon the subject and especially those under the direction of the Medical Corps of the United States Army have shown that inhalations of chlorine of a concentration of 0.015 to 0.013 mg. per liter for one or more hours have a dis tinctively. curative value in common colds, influenza, Whooping cough, coryza, acute laryngitis and pharyngitis, bronchitis, rhinitis and other respiratory diseases in which the infected organisms are located on the surface of the mucous membranes of the respiratory passages.

It has been further shown that a less concentration than that indicated above is insuflicient to produce the desired results while a greater concentration is undesirable because of its liability to attack the mucous membrane itself causing an irritation. of. the healthy tissues.

It is evident. therefore,that the atmospheric content of chlorine is of the greatest importance both in producing effective results and in preventing undesirable irritations. i

This remedial agent for mucous membranous diseases is of the highest value and, as its application is of short duration, occupying only a few hours, its employment as a household remedy for these common diseases suggests itself as meeting universal demand.

Asthe effectiveness of the remedy is dependent upon the atmospheric chlorine con tent within comparatively small limitations, it is essential that any method for its domestic application must be of such a charac tar as to allow of its eltective use by those GRADUAL rnonno'rron or AsEs.

Divided and this application filed Serial No. 19,886.

not conversant with chemical reactions and Who are not possessed of the expensive and elaborate apparatus necessary for the analysis of gases and the control of their production.

It is evident, therefore, that if this valuable remedy for so many common ailments is to be accessible to the public and capable 'of application With ease and certainty, it must be presented in such a form as to be practically automatic in the production of definitely determined quantities of chlorine .gas, 7

Further, the production of the desired quantity of chlorine must be gradual and comparatively uniform, in order that it may be thoroughly diffused through the enclosed space to prevent the injurious and unequal concentrations of chlorine Within the atmosphere.

It is further evident that the chemicals necessary for the production of the chlorine must be of such character as not to deteriorate upon storage incident to ordinary commercial employment, as otherwise, the amount of chlorine-evolved will vary.

.Another essential features of the process for general use is the ease ofchlorine production, free from cumbersome expensive devices and complicated and involved proc- ,esses of procedure. a

Another necessary element is the production of pure chlorine freefrom injurious gases or other c-hen'iical products.

It is evident, therefore,that a successful and effective process for the production of chlorine as a remedial, agent must be simple in application, positive in the amount of chlorine evolved, stable in the character of chemicals employed, gradual in the produc tion of chlorine and must result in the production of pure chlorine. v

Further, it is evident that the device suitable for the production of the described results must be simple in construction,eco-

noniical in cost, easyof applicationi-ind positive in action. I

.My device for theapplicationof my. processes, such as that described, possesses all of the above and other desirable and necessary features and present a means tvhereby the valuable'remedial results of chlorine may be elfectively produced ,by thev individual.-

In a general way, my device is applicable to those processes which include a plurality of materials which are comparatively stable in their unmixed conditions but which, when brought into contact with each other in the presence of a liquid, produce a gas, as for example, chlorine gas, the device being of such a character that the production of gas from the indicated materials is automatically gradual.

It is well known that many substances when brought into contact with each other will produce chlorine gas, such gas production being generally rapid and in many cases of such a character as to be almost explosive in their reaction.

I have found means, however, by which this ordinary rapid evolution of chlorine may be automatically controlled so that the gas production is slow and comparatively uniform.

My device includes the further essential feature that a predetermined amount of chlorine gas may be produced without danger of the evolution of further quantities which might be injurious to the patient.

In my device, I bring into gradual contact with each other aplurality of materials in the presence of a liquid resulting in the formation of chlorine, the gradual intermixture of the chlorine-producing materials being automatically controlled by the reaction incident to the evolution of the gas itself. As but comparatively small quantities of the materials are in contact at any particular time the production of chlorine is gradual and the intermixture of the mate rials being dependent upon the production of chlorine, the intermixture is gradual, resulting in a further gradual evolution of chlorine.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating modifications of the device of my invention, similar parts are designated by similar numerals.

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of one form of my device taken through the line 11 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device of Figure 1, partly broken away for clearness of description.

Figure 3 is a side view of one form of a tube container.

Figure at is a side view of a modified form of. a tube container.

In the following description of my device, I employ it for the production of chlorine gas as a means of explaining its adaptation for the purposes mentioned, and it is evident that other gas producing chemicals can be substituted for those specifically mentioned.

.The particular form of my device, shown in the accompanying drawings, comprises a ber stopper, or closure, having a plurality of smaller openings 13, 13, 18, 13 and a larger opening let, the interior annular portion 15 of the stopper extending slightly beyond the annular portion 16. An annular trough, or receptacle, 17 is formed around the annular portion 16' by means of the annular bottom 18 and annular side 19. A removable graduated glass tube 20 is capable of placement within the opening 14. The tube 20 has a plurality of cut-ut 21, 21, as shown in Figure 3, or a plurality of openings 22, 22, as shown in Figure 4, at its open end, the other end of the tube being closed.

An annular disc 23 has a centrally positioned opening through which the tube 20 may pass, the disc 23 being of slightly less diameter than the space between the trough wall 19.

The following is an example of the carrying out of a process of chlorine gas production in my device shown in the accompanying drawings The commercial outfit may consist of the receptacle 10 containing a material 2st which comprises hydrochloric acid absorbed by infusorial earth, I having found that parts by weight of infusorial earth will absorb about parts by weight of concentrated hydrochloric acid, forming a mixture which, while not entirely dry, is sufficiently dry for purposes of commercial use in my process. This receptacle is closed by means of a rubber cork. [in additional element of the commercial outfit is the operating rubber closure shown in the drawings and the third element is the tube containing a mixture of potassium permanganate and sand, so proportioned that the contents of the tube between each graduation is sutlicient to produce the indicated amount of chlorine 'for one thousand cubic feet of air. This tube is also closed by means of a rubber stopper. The mixture 24 may be enclosed ina separate container, if desired.

The operation is as follows The closure cork is removed from the rcceptacle l0 and the inserted. The contents of the room in which the treatment is to be given is estimated in cubic feet and sufficient mixture 25 is left within the tube 20 for the estimated room capacity as indicated by the tube graduations. he receptacle 10 is then tilted at an angle and the inverted open tube 20 passed through the opening 14, care being taken that the mixture 25 does not fall from the tube, the latter being moved inwardly until it rests upon the exposed surface ofthe mixture 2d. The receptacle is then righted and the position of the'mixtures 24 and 25 is as shown in Figurel. ater is now poured into the trough 17 and allowed to overflow into the receptacle 10 through the openings 13, 13, 13, 13. When sufficient water has operating rubber closure been added to the receptacle, the addition is interrupted and the disc 23 placed in position as shown.

A portion of the water now containing hydrochloric acid passing through the openings 21, 21 causes the productionof chlorine gas along the contact surfaces of the mixtures 24- and 25, the bubbles of gas passing upwardly through the hydrochloric acid 29, through the openings 13, 13, 13, 13, under the disc 23 over the water surface 26, which absorbs any hydrochloric acid which may have been carried by the chlorine gas, and thence outwardly into the atmosphere of the room around the entire periphery of the wall 19.

As but a small portion of the mixtures 24 and 25 and of the hydrochloric acid are in contact with each other, the production of chlorine will be gradual and in small quantity.

As the chlorine producing ability of the two mixtures becomes exhausted, the mix ture 25 will move downwardly, the heavy sand aiding the movement, presenting a new surface for contact with the mixture 24;, thus continuing the gradual and practically uniform evolution of chlorine until the mix ture 25 is exhausted.

It is evident that the products 2 1 and25 may be in tablet form, or may be contained in capsules, each producing a definite quantity of chlorine, or may be otherwise conveniently arranged.

It will thus be seen that my device presents effective means for the gradual production and diffusion of a gas, the continual contact of new gas-producing substances being elfected by the results of the production of the gas itself. 7

I do not limit myself to the particular size, shape, number, material, or arrange ment of parts, nor to the particular chemicals illustrated and described, as these are given simply as a means for clearly describing my invention.

Whatl claim is 1. In a device suitable for the gradual production of a gas, a receptacle, a cover for the receptacle having a plurality of openings therein, a trough carried by the cover and so positioned that a liquid introduced therein will overflow the cover openings into the receptacle and a tube closed at one end passing through the cover and having its open end within the receptacle.

2. In a device suitable for the gradual production of a gas, a receptacle, a cover for the receptacle having a plurality of openings therein, a trough carried by the cover and so positioned that a liquid introduced therein will overflow through the cover openings into the receptacle, a tube closed at one end passingthrough the cover and having its open end within the receptacle and a disc so positioned that a gas formed within the receptacle and passing outwardly through the cover openings will pass over the surface of a liquid Within the trough.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this th day of March, 1925.

WILLIAM E. KEMMERIOH. 

